Media Debate
Conference: Unit 2 Media Debate
February 18, 2011 8:34 AM
BUT
by Charles Lawson
The processing capabilities of a medium can improve the efficiency of learning, but they do not cause learning. It is the instructional methods used that cause learning.
Clark states in Media Will Never Influence Learning that, "It cannot be argued that any given medium or attribute must be present in order for learning to occur, only that certain media and attributes are more efficient for certain learners, learning goals and tasks" (1994, p. 22).
February 18, 2011 8:44 AM
BUT
by Charles Lawson
There is no study that proves that any particular media attribute has "a unique cognitive effect (Clark, 1994, p. 25).
Clark goes on to explain that people learned to fly airplanes before computers existed, so studies that showed this media had unique attributes that influenced learning were incorrect. The "unique" media attributes of computer flight simulation were not essential for learning to occur, since people learned to fly airplanes without computers.
February 18, 2011 1:45 PM
EXPL - medium affects cost and\or efficiency of learning
by Charles Lawson
While the cost and/or efficiency of the learning is affected by the medium, it is the instructional method that causes learning to occur.
An instructor should expect to see the same amount of learning from several forms of media as long as the proper instructional methods were used in creating the instruction. When multiple media types are capable of employing the necessary instructional methods for learning, then cost of the medium should be taken into consideration.
Clark contends that when different groups of instructional designers create programs of a similar nature, they would naturally use different content and instructional strategies, which would make a greater difference on survey result than would media type, thus confounding the study (1983, pp. 446-449 & 1994, pp. 24-27).
February 18, 2011 1:53 PM
EVID Examples
by Charles Lawson
An instructor should expect to see the same amount of learning from several forms of media as long as the proper instructional methods were used in creating the instruction. When multiple media types are capable of employing the necessary instructional methods for learning, then cost of the medium should be taken into consideration.
If learning astronomy, a gifted instructor is better than a poorly written book, except when you cannot afford to attend the lecture. Likewise a well-written book is better than a poor lecturer, except when the book is rare and difficult to obtain, whereas the lecturer can be found for free on YouTube. In both cases, it is the instructional quality that makes one better, but if the cost makes the medium unobtainable, then you must live with the lesser instructional method.
Likewise, if an instructional web site is cluttered and contains very small type, this could distract from learning. Whereas a well-formatted manual with the same content will likely result in more learning. But if they are both well-designed, then only the one that costs less to publish should be created.
Evidence that the "positive effect of media" disappears when instruction is designed by the same person is shown in the studies by C. Kulik, Kulik, & Cohen, 1980 (see reference) (Clark, 1983, p. 448).
February 21, 2011 5:33 PM
BUT - interactivity does not = media
by Charles Lawson
Interactivity can be implemented by the instructional designer in any form of media, including video and print, therefore a media type comparison study would be inaccurate if the instructional design methods differed.
For example, if a computer based training (CBT) program was designed to be interactive, but a training video of the same content was designed to be passive, this would be just as confounding than if a CBT program was designed passively and the training video was designed interactively.
I have designed and created interactive video, but for some customers, cost becomes the issue. If there is a cheaper way to implement the same design, than that media would normally be chosen.
February 21, 2011 5:39 PM
EVID - flight simulation
by Charles Lawson
An example that Clark likes to use to refute the idea that computers somehow improve learning is flight simulators. While there may be obvious benefits to flight simulators, such as safety, cost, and efficiency, this does not mean that people were worse pilots prior to the creation of flight simulation training programs. So there are definitely benefits for one medium over another, but learning can still take place with all media when correctly designed.
February 21, 2011 5:54 PM
Re: BUT
by Charles Lawson
So by that same argument, nobody was able to fly an airplane prior to flight simulator tools? A flight instructor could deliver a curriculum that would include print, pictures, lectures, and hands-on learning.
In addition, before men were trained to go into space, we sent monkeys, so it must not be that hard :)
February 21, 2011 6:12 PM
BUT - Moratorium on Research? How is the money best spent?
by Charles Lawson
I feel Clark's point would be "how is the money best spent?" Would the $2 million being given for research be better spent comparing media types yet again, or comparing instructional methods?
February 22, 2011 7:37 PM
EXPL - All mediums can be interactive or passive
by Charles Lawson
Interactivity is an aspect of media that can be implemented or not implemented depending on the content designer. Therefore when comparing a passive lecture with an interactive lecture, it could stand to reason that the interactive lecture resulted in more or better learning than the passive lecture -- but the medium is the same. It is confounding to compare an interactive form of one medium with a passive form of another medium.
All forms of media are capable of interaction, although with some it is easier and less costly than others -- these are the factors that should be considered, not the medium itself.
February 22, 2011 7:49 PM
BUT (Another) - Integral is not = Influence
by Charles Lawson
Even if media is needed for learning to occur (which I would say would be a different debate), that does not result in media type influencing learning. Clark uses the analogy that media is simply the vehicle that delivers the groceries, with groceries being the instruction (1983, p. 445). The vehicle does not provide the nutrition we need, the groceries do.
February 22, 2011 7:56 PM
BUT - We do still write on cave walls
by Charles Lawson
The graffiti that is seen in most urban areas is akin to the drawings found on cave walls. It stands to reason that as more forms of media become available, the cost and efficiency of using them will determine whether they are implemented or not.
February 22, 2011 8:05 PM
BUT - Confounding studies
by Charles Lawson
When a study compares two instructional programs developed by different designers, all you are establishing is the efficacy of the instructional design of the programs. To compare media types, you must have like instructional design, otherwise the study is confounded (Clark, 1994, p. 24).
February 22, 2011 8:10 PM
BUT - wrong vehicle to deliver your groceries
by Charles Lawson
If I decide to transport groceries with a lawn tractor instead of a tractor trailer, even though the cost and efficiency will go up and down respectively, the nutritional quality of the groceries does not change (Clark, 1983, p. 445).
February 22, 2011 8:13 PM
BUT - Rotten instruction is not fault of medium, but instructional design
by Charles Lawson
If the learning content is "rotten" then you cannot blame the medium that delivered it but the instructional designer that designed it.
February 22, 2011 8:16 PM
Re: BUT (Kozma) BUT - Moratorium on Research? How is the money best spent?
by Charles Lawson
What findings are you referring to?
February 18, 2011 8:34 AM
BUT
by Charles Lawson
The processing capabilities of a medium can improve the efficiency of learning, but they do not cause learning. It is the instructional methods used that cause learning.
Clark states in Media Will Never Influence Learning that, "It cannot be argued that any given medium or attribute must be present in order for learning to occur, only that certain media and attributes are more efficient for certain learners, learning goals and tasks" (1994, p. 22).
February 18, 2011 8:44 AM
BUT
by Charles Lawson
There is no study that proves that any particular media attribute has "a unique cognitive effect (Clark, 1994, p. 25).
Clark goes on to explain that people learned to fly airplanes before computers existed, so studies that showed this media had unique attributes that influenced learning were incorrect. The "unique" media attributes of computer flight simulation were not essential for learning to occur, since people learned to fly airplanes without computers.
February 18, 2011 1:45 PM
EXPL - medium affects cost and\or efficiency of learning
by Charles Lawson
While the cost and/or efficiency of the learning is affected by the medium, it is the instructional method that causes learning to occur.
An instructor should expect to see the same amount of learning from several forms of media as long as the proper instructional methods were used in creating the instruction. When multiple media types are capable of employing the necessary instructional methods for learning, then cost of the medium should be taken into consideration.
Clark contends that when different groups of instructional designers create programs of a similar nature, they would naturally use different content and instructional strategies, which would make a greater difference on survey result than would media type, thus confounding the study (1983, pp. 446-449 & 1994, pp. 24-27).
February 18, 2011 1:53 PM
EVID Examples
by Charles Lawson
An instructor should expect to see the same amount of learning from several forms of media as long as the proper instructional methods were used in creating the instruction. When multiple media types are capable of employing the necessary instructional methods for learning, then cost of the medium should be taken into consideration.
If learning astronomy, a gifted instructor is better than a poorly written book, except when you cannot afford to attend the lecture. Likewise a well-written book is better than a poor lecturer, except when the book is rare and difficult to obtain, whereas the lecturer can be found for free on YouTube. In both cases, it is the instructional quality that makes one better, but if the cost makes the medium unobtainable, then you must live with the lesser instructional method.
Likewise, if an instructional web site is cluttered and contains very small type, this could distract from learning. Whereas a well-formatted manual with the same content will likely result in more learning. But if they are both well-designed, then only the one that costs less to publish should be created.
Evidence that the "positive effect of media" disappears when instruction is designed by the same person is shown in the studies by C. Kulik, Kulik, & Cohen, 1980 (see reference) (Clark, 1983, p. 448).
February 21, 2011 5:33 PM
BUT - interactivity does not = media
by Charles Lawson
Interactivity can be implemented by the instructional designer in any form of media, including video and print, therefore a media type comparison study would be inaccurate if the instructional design methods differed.
For example, if a computer based training (CBT) program was designed to be interactive, but a training video of the same content was designed to be passive, this would be just as confounding than if a CBT program was designed passively and the training video was designed interactively.
I have designed and created interactive video, but for some customers, cost becomes the issue. If there is a cheaper way to implement the same design, than that media would normally be chosen.
February 21, 2011 5:39 PM
EVID - flight simulation
by Charles Lawson
An example that Clark likes to use to refute the idea that computers somehow improve learning is flight simulators. While there may be obvious benefits to flight simulators, such as safety, cost, and efficiency, this does not mean that people were worse pilots prior to the creation of flight simulation training programs. So there are definitely benefits for one medium over another, but learning can still take place with all media when correctly designed.
February 21, 2011 5:54 PM
Re: BUT
by Charles Lawson
So by that same argument, nobody was able to fly an airplane prior to flight simulator tools? A flight instructor could deliver a curriculum that would include print, pictures, lectures, and hands-on learning.
In addition, before men were trained to go into space, we sent monkeys, so it must not be that hard :)
February 21, 2011 6:12 PM
BUT - Moratorium on Research? How is the money best spent?
by Charles Lawson
I feel Clark's point would be "how is the money best spent?" Would the $2 million being given for research be better spent comparing media types yet again, or comparing instructional methods?
February 22, 2011 7:37 PM
EXPL - All mediums can be interactive or passive
by Charles Lawson
Interactivity is an aspect of media that can be implemented or not implemented depending on the content designer. Therefore when comparing a passive lecture with an interactive lecture, it could stand to reason that the interactive lecture resulted in more or better learning than the passive lecture -- but the medium is the same. It is confounding to compare an interactive form of one medium with a passive form of another medium.
All forms of media are capable of interaction, although with some it is easier and less costly than others -- these are the factors that should be considered, not the medium itself.
February 22, 2011 7:49 PM
BUT (Another) - Integral is not = Influence
by Charles Lawson
Even if media is needed for learning to occur (which I would say would be a different debate), that does not result in media type influencing learning. Clark uses the analogy that media is simply the vehicle that delivers the groceries, with groceries being the instruction (1983, p. 445). The vehicle does not provide the nutrition we need, the groceries do.
February 22, 2011 7:56 PM
BUT - We do still write on cave walls
by Charles Lawson
The graffiti that is seen in most urban areas is akin to the drawings found on cave walls. It stands to reason that as more forms of media become available, the cost and efficiency of using them will determine whether they are implemented or not.
February 22, 2011 8:05 PM
BUT - Confounding studies
by Charles Lawson
When a study compares two instructional programs developed by different designers, all you are establishing is the efficacy of the instructional design of the programs. To compare media types, you must have like instructional design, otherwise the study is confounded (Clark, 1994, p. 24).
February 22, 2011 8:10 PM
BUT - wrong vehicle to deliver your groceries
by Charles Lawson
If I decide to transport groceries with a lawn tractor instead of a tractor trailer, even though the cost and efficiency will go up and down respectively, the nutritional quality of the groceries does not change (Clark, 1983, p. 445).
February 22, 2011 8:13 PM
BUT - Rotten instruction is not fault of medium, but instructional design
by Charles Lawson
If the learning content is "rotten" then you cannot blame the medium that delivered it but the instructional designer that designed it.
February 22, 2011 8:16 PM
Re: BUT (Kozma) BUT - Moratorium on Research? How is the money best spent?
by Charles Lawson
What findings are you referring to?